James Jones to lead UM Homecoming parade Friday

No, James Jones said, he will not have to wear a crown or carry a scepter, "only a Hurricanes T-shirt and a big smile."

The Miami Heat forward will serve Friday as Grand Marshal of the University of Miami's Homecoming parade.

"I've always stayed close to the University and with the athletic department," said Jones, who graduated from the school with a 2003 degree in finance.

"With Blake, we had a conversation about opportunities to come back and be involved in some of the Homecoming stuff during the season," he said of his discussions with University of Miami Director of Athletics Blake James.

Jones, who spoke of the honor before Tuesday's game against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre, said the timing works out, with the Heat idle Friday, between a Thursday home game against the Los Angeles Clippers and a Saturday home game against the Boston Celtics that will force him to miss the Hurricanes' Homecoming game that night against Virginia Tech at Sun Life Stadium.

"It just so happens that this year is one of the few years where the schedule actually worked out," Jones said. "It wasn't that there wasn't a desire to be a part of it before, but with our schedule and the school's schedule, Homecoming, it never really came together."

Jones said he felt honored that he would be considered by University of Miami President Donna Shalala.

"President Shalala, she's done an amazing job down there, and more than anything it's an honor for me to be a part of it," he said.

The Homecoming parade will be at 7 p.m. Friday and run along Merrick and Stanford Drive.

Previous athletes to serve as Grand Marshal at UM's Homecoming include Michael Irvin, Russell Maryland, Bennie Blades, Alonzo Highsmith and Darrin Smith.


(sun-sentinel.com)